Scientific Equipment Program
Scientific Equipment Program applications on eResearch
IMPORTANT: Due to the fully utilized budget the form for requests ≤CHF 50'000 is closed. Starting January 15, 2025, the form will be reopened for applications in 2025.
Before submitting an application on eResearch please read the guidelines carefully.
Within eResearch please make sure, you choose the right form when starting the application process. For the SEP two forms are available: One for requests ≤CHF 50'000 and one for requests >CHF 50'000.
Equipment needs in 2025: For requests >CHF 50'000 there will be a single call with deadline on January 15, 2025. For the last time, the evaluation and decision will be carried out by the Equipment Commission (incl. external reviews) in March 2025, making use of the full SEP budget for 2025. For this call the currently valid Download guidelines (PDF, 206 KB) apply.
Equipment needs in 2026: For equipment needs >CHF 50'000 in 2026, researchers will need to submit their applications in the call with deadline on September 1, 2025. The evaluation and decision will be carried out by the Research Commission (incl. external reviews) in November 2025 using the full SEP budget for 2026. During Q2 in 2025 the new guidelines for the Scientific Equipment Program with the Research Commission as evaluation body will be made available to you.
The goal of the Scientific Equipment Program (SEP) is to facilitate the renewal and updating of major scientific and technological equipment including computer hardware at ETH Zurich. The program only supports investments that exceed the financial resources of the applicants.
Funding requests may be submitted for the following capital expenditures:
- acquisition and major repairs of scientific apparatus for research and teaching
- ICT hardware for research including shares of central compute servers and memory
- scientific software
- machine tools for departmental workshops
As of 2024 a list of the supported equipment will be provided protected page here.
There is no absolute cap on how much funding can be requested. However, the sum must exceed the applicant's own budget, applicants are expected to contribute to the total costs, and restrictions apply based on several cut-off points:
- < CHF 10,000: requests are not considered
- ≤ CHF 50,000: requests can be submitted at any time and are handled by the Office of Research
- > CHF 50,000: obligatory peer review organized around fixed deadlines; competitive allocation
- > CHF 200,000: application to external page R'Equip for co-funding is mandatory if the equipment in question is eligible for R'Equip funding
- > CHF 500,000: approval by ETH Executive Board required
See the Download program guidelines (PDF, 206 KB) for further details.
The principal applicant must be employed at ETH Zurich at a minimum of 50%. Their position must be permanent or guaranteed for at least three years after the submission date.
Applications are only considered if they comply with the Download program guidelines (PDF, 206 KB). Most importantly, the requested equipment must match the program's goals and the requested sum must exceed the applicant's own budget. Noncompliant applications will be rejected on formal grounds.
All requests are to be submitted electronically via eResearch.
Requests exceeding CHF 50,000 are handled by ETH's Equipment Commission, who may involve internal or external reviewers as required. See the Download program guidelines (PDF, 206 KB) for further details.
Outside office hours, no support can be provided for problems with electronic submission.
Submission deadlines for requests exceeding CHF 50’000 are January 15, May 1, and September 1, 17:00 Swiss local time. Requests amounting to less than CHF 50’000 may be submitted throughout the year between January 15 and November 30.
Notifications of decisions will generally be sent to the principal applicant within 2 to 4 months following the submission deadline. Requests exceeding CHF 500’000 need to be discussed with the ETH Zurich Executive Board and therefore may take longer to process.